Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, contributed over $250 million in the final months of this year’s U.S. presidential election to support Donald Trump’s successful re-election bid, according to federal filings released Thursday. Musk’s contributions of over $250 million, though a small fraction of his immense wealth, set a record for single-donor funding in a presidential campaign.
Among Musk’s unconventional moves was a $20 million donation to a super PAC named after Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the late liberal Supreme Court justice. The PAC, aimed at moderating Trump’s stance on abortion, drew widespread criticism for its perceived appropriation of Ginsburg’s legacy.
The majority of Musk’s financial backing went to America PAC, his flagship super PAC. Musk donated $239 million in cash and in-kind contributions, including three separate $25 million checks in the final weeks of the campaign. America PAC concentrated on grassroots efforts in key battleground states, with Musk viewing Trump’s leadership as essential for defeating President Biden. Following an assassination attempt on Musk in July, his support for Trump intensified, leading him to actively campaign in Pennsylvania, a critical swing state.
In addition to his pre-election contributions, Musk provided $4 million to America PAC shortly after Election Day. He plans to maintain the PAC’s operations to target progressive prosecutors and advance Trump’s policy goals.
Musk also supported other Republican initiatives, donating $12 million to groups backing GOP Senate candidates, including the Senate Leadership Fund and Sentinel Action Fund. Federal filings suggest Musk may have also contributed to undisclosed dark-money entities.
The filings identified Musk as the sole funder of the controversial RBG PAC, which used Ginsburg’s image to promote Trump. The PAC ran ads claiming Trump’s abortion policies aligned with Ginsburg’s values, using the tagline “Great Minds Think Alike” alongside images of Trump and Ginsburg. This sparked outrage from Ginsburg’s family, including her granddaughter Clara Spera, who labeled the campaign “appalling.”
Following Trump’s election victory, Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy were named to lead the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
